"Senator Warner called his office this morning around 11:30 a.m. to say he is doing very well," his office said in a written statement. "He advised his staff that he passed this morning's procedure 'with flying colors' and that 'no one is to go home early, as we all have work to do.'"

In non-surgical ablation, a catheter is snaked from an artery in the groin into the heart. Then, a machine directs laser or microwave energy into the heart muscle producing the abnormal rhythm, causing it to scar and disrupting the abnormal rhythm's electrical pathway.

The procedure was carried out at Inova Fairfax Hospital in suburban Washington, where the 80-year-old's heart rate and rhythm were normal, the statement said.

The ablation was carried out a day after Warner underwent electrical cardioversion, another non-surgical procedure, to treat an ineffective beating of the heart called atrial fibrillation. In the disorder, the heart's two upper chambers quiver instead of beating in a way that moves blood effectively through the body.

"That procedure was also a complete success," the statement said.

"A bag full of worms" is the way one doctor described the beating of a heart in atrial fibrillation. The condition may result in the pooling of blood and the formation of clots in the atria. If they were to break loose, they could lodge in the brain, causing a stroke.

Cardioversion shocks the heart back into a normal rhythm.

About 2.2 million Americans have atrial fibrillation, according to the American Heart Association.

The ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee was to remain hospitalized overnight for observation and was expected to return home over the weekend and resume working next week in the Senate.

soundoff(5 Responses)

We wish the Senator/Veteran to heal Godspeed! Then after rehab he can be an positive influence on the king (bush) of America. In a weird way the Healthcare that the Senator was given, needs to be given to "all" Americans in the long run! Healthy Americans, Strong Americans mind & body! A.k.a National Security!